Loose leaf binder



March 26, 1935. A. G. L oTTERy LoosE LEAF BINDER Original Filed March 2, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .m ....HNHHHN.. mk r mhN A March 26, 1935. 4 A. G, I OTTE LOOSE LEAF BINDER original Filed March 2, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MDMV,

dU/p/ ELU/752' Patented Mar. 26, 1935 UNITED STATES LoosE LEAF BINDER Adolph G. Lotter, Milwaukee, assigner to Stationers Loose Leaf Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Original application March 2, 1933, Serial No. 659,252. Divided and this application April 9, 1934, Serial No. 719,681

9 Claims.

two binder heads to which the covers of the binder are hingedly connected, and is a division of my application for United States Letters Patent, Serial No. 659,252, filed March 2, 1933.

It is a general object of this invention to provide a binder head locking mechanism so constructed as to exert an equalized gripping pressure on the binder posts despite inaccuracies caused by production factors, in location of the locking means and variations in post diameter, and also compensate for thev wear such mechanism is subjected to.

A further object of this invention is to provide a locking mechanism of the vcharacter described, which not only automatically equalizes itself, but is so constructed as to have a smooth easy operation and capable of actuation by nothing more than asmall thumb screw, thus obviating the 'customary key.

And a still further object of this invention is to provide a locking device of the character ldescribed which is of simple construction comprising but a few readily assembled parts.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly ,defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated two complete examples of the physical embodiment of my invention constructed according to the best modes I have so far devised for the practical applicationof the principles thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of a loose `leaf binder of the character described with parts broken away and in section to illustrate structural details;

Figure 2 is a view taken through Figure 1 on the plane of the line 2 2;

Figure 3 is across section viewtaken through Figure l on the plane of the line 3-3; y

Figure 4 is a top view of a binder head with a portion broken away and in section illustrating a modified embodiment ofr this invention; and

Figure 5 is a section view taken through Figure 4 on the plane of the line 5 5.

(Cl. 12S- 12) Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings in which like'numerals indicate like parts, the numerals 5 and 6 designate lower and upper binder heads respectively between which a stack of loose leaves '7 is adapted to be clamped. The lower binder head 5 has a pair of upright posts 8 attached thereto von which the leaves are impaled in the-customary manner, the posts 8 preferably being sectional to permit increasing their length to compensate for additional leaves.

The binder heads 5 and Gare of generally oblong tubular cross section, and as illustrated, are each rolled from a single length of sheet metal with the seam of their meeting edges facing inwardly toward the covers 9, only one being shown. The covers are hingedly mounted on rods 9 Whose opposite ends are fixed in tubular units 10 secured to the ends of the binder heads. The units 10 have projecting noses 11 to which the hinge rods are attached and spaced parallel flanges 12 adapted to be received between the upper and'lower walls of the binder heads where they are secured byrthe rivets 13.

At one end of the binder head 6 a nut member 14 is secured by the rivets 13. A pressure applying screw 15 is threaded in the nut member to afford actuating means for the locking mechanism. The pressure applying screw has a squared outer end 16, with which an actuating head 17, is non-rotatably engaged. The actuating head 17 has a reduced shank 18 which passes through an opening in the outer wall of the tubular member 10 and an. enlarged knurled head 19.

As stated lthe binder `posts 8 are fixed to the lower binder head 5 in any suitable manner, as by being threaded into bushings 20 fixed thereto, and the upper ends of the posts are freely received in and passed through aligned openings 21 in the top and bottom walls 22 and 23 respectively of the upper binder head 6.

The openings 21 are sufficiently large to loosely receive the posts and permit the upper binder head to be forced down onto ,the stack of leaves. In this position, the binder head is adapted to be secured by the locking mechanism indicated generally by the numeral 24. Inasmuch as the location of the openings 21 through which the posts pass may be slightly disaligned with respect to the exact distance between the posts and as the posts and the post engaging elements of the locking mechanism are subject to wear, it is desirable that the locking mechanism be automatically equalized to compensate for such variation or wear. It is also desirable that the equalization be effected Without disturbing the parallel position of the posts, or in other words Without jamming the posts toward each other or spreading them away from each other.

The locking mechanism 24 obtains all of the desired results. This mechanism comprises an elongated bar 25 which extends substantially throughout the length of the upper binder head. At its end adjacent the pressure applying screw l5, the bar has an undercut opening 26 to rotatably, but non-longitudinally inovably receive a head 27 on the inner end of the screw so that by rotation of the screw longitudinal shifting of the bar 25 in either direction may be accomplished. The bar has elongated openings 28 in its opposite end portions in which the posts 8 are freely received. Spacing -members 29 are carried by the bar to hold the same in its proper plane of movement Within the binder head.

At a central point the bar 25 has a lever or cross piece 30 pivotally mounted thereon asat 31 and to the ends of the cross piece, itwo similar links 32 are pivotally attached as at 33. At the outer ends of the links 532 there are polygonal openings 34 substantially aligned with the elongated openings 28 to receirvctiie posts8.

In operation theapplicationof pressure on the elongated bar 25 carries the pivot point :31 of the cross piece 30 lto the left thus causingone of .the links 32 to Ybe placed in compression and the other in tension to force the trailing edges of polygonal openings 34 .against the posts to effect a locking action with the opposite peripheral edges ofthe openings 21.

-In the embodiment disclosed in Figures 'land 15 an elongated bar 25 similar to that shown in Figures l, 2 and 3, but having round openings to receive posts 8 is provided, and in lplace vof the links 32, the actual locking action is afforded by short levers or transverse post Yengaging members 35 Ypivotally mounted as at 36 from thel bar 25. These cross pieces 35 are connected with a central cross piece 30 through links 37 and `the edges olf the cross pieces .35 which engage the posts are preferably sharpened yas at 38 (see Figure 5).

The operation of the locking mechanism of Figure 4 is similar to that shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 but because of the additional cross pieces 35, additional leverage is obtained.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains that the invention affords a novel locking device for loose leaf binders which automatically equalizes itself and grips both posts with equal force, and that the locking mechanism has great leverage and thus provides a smooth and easy action.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. In a loose leaf binder including spaced posts upon which loose leaves are adapted to be impaled and a binder head having openings to loosely receive the posts, a locking mechanism to secure the binder head to the posts comprising a bar having longitudinally spaced portions in sliding engagement with the inner walls of the binder head and held thereby against any but linear movement longitudinal to the binder head, interconnected post engaging elements pivotally connected with the bar and havingr means to clamp said posts against the peripheral edges of the openings in the binder head upon movement of the bar in one direction, and means to move the bar.

2. In a loose leaf binder including spaced posts upon which loose leaves are adapted to be impaled and a binder head having openings to loosely receive the posts, a locking mechanism to secure the binder head to the posts comprising a bar movable longitudinally of the binder head, interconnected elements pivotally connected to said bar adjacent its medial portion, and transverse post engaging members pivoted to said elements and to the bar adjacent its ends, said post engaging members clamping the posts against the peripheral edges of the openings in the binder head upon movement of the bar in one direction, and means to move the bar.

3. In a loose leaf binder including spaced posts upon which loose leaves are adapted to be impaled and a hollow binder head having openings to loosely receive the posts, a locking mechanism to secure the binder head to the posts comprising a bar movable longitudinally of the binder head, interconnected elements pivotally connected -to said bar adjacent its medial portion, post engaging levers pivoted to said elements and to the bar adjacentitsends, a screw threaded to one end of saidvbinderhead with its inner end engageable with the bar, and said levers clamping the posts against the peripheral edges of the openings in the binder Vhead upon actuation of the bar in one direction by rotation of the screw.

4. In a loose leaf binder including spaced posts upon which loose leaves are adapted to be impaled, -a hollow lbinder head having openings to loosely receive the posts, a locking mechanism to secure the binder head to the posts comprising, a bar movable longitudinally of the binder head and lextending substantially Athroughout; the length thereof, interconnected elements pivotally connected to said vbar addacent its medial portion,

post engaging levers pivoted to said elements and to the bar adjacent its ends, a screw threaded through one .end of said binder head with its inner end engageable with the bar, and said levers clamping .the posts against the peripheral edges of the openings in the binder head upon the actuation of the bar in one direction by rotation of the screw.

5.. In a .loose leaf binder including spaced posts on which loose leaves are adapted to be impaled,

`and a hollow binder head having openings to loosely receive the posts, a locking mechanism to secure the binder head to the posts comprising, a bar having longitudinally spaced portions in sliding engagement with the inner walls of the binder head and held thereby against any but linear movement longitudinal to the binder head, interconnected post engaging elements pivotally connected to said bar adjacent its medial portion, said elements having openings substantially aligned with the first mentioned openings, the edges of the openings clamping the posts against the peripheral edges of the first mentioned openings upon movement of the bar in one direction, and means to move the bar.

6. In a loose leaf binder including spaced posts upon which loose leaves are adapted to be impaled and a hollow binder head having openings to loosely receive the posts, a locking mechanism to secure the binder head to the posts comprising, a bar movable longitudinally of the binder head, interconnected post engaging elements pivotally connected to said bar adjacent its medial portion, said elements having openings substantially aligned with the iirst mentioned openings, a screw threaded through one end of said binder head with its inner end engageable with the bar, and the edges of the second mentioned openings clamping the posts against the peripheral edges of the first mentioned openings upon actuation of the bar in one direction by rotation of the screw.

'7. In a loose leaf binder including spaced posts upon which loose leaves are adapted to be impaled, a hollow binder head having openings to loosely receive the posts, a locking mechanism to secure the binder head to the posts comprising, a bar movable longitudinally of the binder head and extending substantially throughout the length thereof, interconnected post engaging elements pivotally connected to said bar adjacent its medial portion, a screw threaded through one end of said binder head With its inner end engageable with the bar, said post engaging elements having openings substantially aligned with the rst mentioned openings to clamp the posts against the peripheral edges. of the binder head openings upon actuation of the bar' in one direction by rotation of the screw, and said openings in the post engaging elements being polygonal to afford multiple contacts With the posts.

8. In a loose leaf binder including spaced posts upon which loose leaves are adapted to be impaled, a binder head having openings to loosely receive the posts, a locking mechanism to secure the binder head to the posts comprising, a bar having longitudinally spaced portions in sliding engagement with the inner walls of the binder head and held thereby against any but linear movement longitudinal to the binder head, a lever medially pivoted to the bar, post engaging members attached to the ends of the lever to clamp the posts against the peripheral edges of the openings in the binder head upon movement of the bar in one direction, and means to move the bar.

9. In a loose leaf binder including spaced posts upon which loose leaves are adapted to be impaled, a binder head having openings to loosely receive the posts, a locking mechanism to secure the binder head to the posts comprising, a bar movable longitudinally of the binder head, a lever medially pivoted to the bar, post engaging members. attached to the ends of the lever and having openings adjacent their outer ends substantially aligned with the iirst mentioned openings, a screw threaded through one end of the binder head with its inner end engageable with the bar, and movement of the bar in onedirection by rotation of the 

